Walking hobbyhorse



June 2l, 1938. E' p O'DONNELL Y 2,121,257

WALKING HOBBYHOSE Filed 001;. 10. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 21, 1938. EP. o'DoNNELL WALKING HOBBYHOHSE Filed oct. 1o. 19.56

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill.

Patented June 21, 1938 WALKING HOBBYHORSI?` Edward P. ODonnell, Oklahoma City, Okla., as-

signor to B. F. Kelley, Tulsa, Okla.

Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,128

9 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to an animated toy or walking hobby horse.

The object of the invention is to provide a toy horse of simple and inexpensive construction which may be safely used by children in the same manner as a hobby horse and which will automatically walk or progress in a forward direction with a step by step movement as the weight of the rider is alternately shifted from the saddle to the stirrups.

A further object of the invention is to provide an animated toy comprising pivotally connected front and rear sections fashioned in simulation of a horse and normally and yieldably supported with a portion of adjacent faces disposed at an angle to each other whereby whenk the weight of 'the rider is imposed upon the saddle, the angular faces of the sections will contact and allow forward movement of the front legs of the horse,

and when the weight of the rider is transferredl to the stirrups, said angular faces will separate and permit a corresponding forward movement of the rear legs of the horse.

A further object is to provide a stirrup actuated member pivotally mounted on one section and havin-g a flexible connection with the other for moving the lower ends of said sections together when the weight of the rider is imposed on the stirrups.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability, and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures of the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a walking hobby horse embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar View, partly in section, and showing in dotted lines the position assumed by the front and rear legs of the hobby horse when the weight of the rider is imposed on the saddle.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View showing the pivoted sections depressed under the weight of the rider and ready to be returned to normal position by the stirrup actuating member.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stirrup actuating member and its associated parts detached.

The toy forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a body portion 5 fashioned in simulation of any well-known animal, preferably a horse, and including front and rear sections 6 and 1 provided with front and rear legs 8 and 9, respectively, as best shown in Figure l of the drawings. The inner portions of the sections 6 and 'l are pivotally united by a hinge joint Il] disposed at approximately the center of the body portion, the adjacent faces of the sections immediately below the pivot pin bein-g disposed parallel with each other, as indicated at Il, and the adjacent faces of the sections above the pivot being arranged at an angle to each o-ther, as indicated at i2, so as to permit the inner ends of said sections to be alternately depressed and elevated, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The sections comprising the body portion are preferably hollow to form an interior chamber I3, and disposed within said chamber is Va coil spring M, one end of which is anchored to a pin l5 on the rear section and the other end anchored tol a corresponding pin I6 on the front section of the body portion so as to normally and yieldably hold the parallel faces Il of the sections in contact with each other and assist in returning the sections to normal position after they have been separated by the weight of the rider. Pivotally mounted, at l1, on the forward section t is a saddle I8 and the rear end of the saddle rests loosely on the rear section 1 of the horse so as to permitl movement of said section without disturbing the `position of said saddle.

The `lower extremities of the front and rear legs of the toy horse are provided with openings I9 through which extend stub shafts 20 provided with traction wheels 2| and 22 preferably equipped with rubber tires sol as not to vmarthe floor or other surf ace over which the horse travels. Secured tothe axles of the frontand rear legs are ratchet wheels 23 and pivotally mounted be-` tween the legs and coacting with the teeth on the ratchet wheelsare U-shaped pivoted pawls 24, the purpose of which is to allow `movement of the legs in one direction only. Surrounding each stub shaft 2l) and interposed between the traction wheels and adjacent legs of the horse are spacing sleeves 25, certain of which move with the stub shaft and others being loosely mounted thereon. The traction wheels 22 are keyed to the stub shafts 20, while the traction wheels 2l are free to revolve thereon so as to permit the horse to make turns or travel in a curved path, if desired. v

Pivotally mounted, at 26, on the forward sec-v tion of the body portion is a stirrup actuating member 21 having its pivoted end provided with a cam face 28 and its free end formed with a lever 29, the end of which is reduced to provide a tongue 30 which fits between spaced ears 3| of a depending bar 32, there being a pivot pin 33 extending through the tongue and ears 3| and forming a pivotal connection between the parts, as best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. 'I'he lower end of the depending bar is bifurcated, at 34, to receive a cross bar 35 to which it is pivoted, at 36. The opposite ends of the cross bar 35 are formed with slots 31 adapted to receive suspension straps 38 carrying stirrups 39, one of which is disposed at each side of the hobby horse, as shown.

Connecting the bar 21 and cam 28 and preferably formed integral therewith is a reinforcing web 40 having an opening therein through vwhich extends one end of a chainor/other flexible element 4|, the opposite end of which is secured to a pin 42 carried by the rear section of the body portion so that when-a downward pressure is exerted-on the stirrups 39, the cam 28 will exert a longitudinal pull on the chain k4| and draw the sections together.

Assuming the parts` to be inthe position shown in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, the weight of a child on the saddle I8 will depress the pivoted endsfof the front and rear sections to the position shownin Figure 3 of the drawings. As

theisections are depressed, the pawl 24 on the rearsection will prevent rearward movement of the rear legs of the horse, while the pawl 24 on the-.front section will permit the front legs tobefmoved forwardly in a direct line to the dotted ,line position .shown in Figure 2. When the weight `of the rider is shifted from the saddle to :thestirrups 39, the lever of the actuating member 2T will be forced downwardly, thereby exerting a pull on the chain 4| and bringing the 40...lower-portions of the sections together to the 4d-will assist irl-returning the sections to normal position shown in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. When the saddle is depressed, the spring |4 will expand so that when the weight of the` rider is shifted to the stirrups, the spring |4 position..

It will thus be seen that as the rider alternately shifts his weight from the saddle to the stirrups, the horse will be caused to travel or prooggress in-a forward-direction with a step by step MB is-preferably provided with'a flexible skirtv movement, which forward movement of the horse will continue as long as the rider shifts his weight fromthe saddle to the stirrups.

Detachably secured to the forward section 6 by screws or similar fastening devices 43- are removable side plates 44, preferably painted to represent a saddle blanket, and which act asl side closures .and guides for the body sections when depressing and elevating the same. The saddle 45` whichoverhangs the side plates and assists in `preventing, the entrance of dust and dirt between the body' sections.

Atoy horse. constructed in accordancefwith the present invention will not only afford a child the same amusement and vdiversion incident to.Y

'I82EdepartingfromA the spiritof the invention.V

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A hobby horse comprising a body portion including pivotally united front and rear sections having leg portions, means for yieldably supporting the adjacent faces of the sections in contact with each other, a saddle spanning the junction of said sections and adapted to be depressed by the weight of a rider for separating the lower portions of the sections to permit forward movement of the front legs of the horse, stirrups depending from the front section, an actuating member operatively connected with the stirrups, and a flexible connection between the actuating member and said rear section for movingthe lower portions of the sections together'and advancing the rear legs of the horse whenthe weight .of the rider is transferred to the stirrups.

2. A hobby horse comprising a body portion includingpivotally united front and rear sections having depending leg portions, stub shafts extending through the leg portions and provided with traction wheels, ratchet wheels carried by thestub shafts, pawls mounted on the leg portions and engaging the ratchet wheels, a saddle spanning thepivotaljunction of said sections and adapted to depress the sections when the weight of the. rider is imposed on the saddle, an actuating. member carried by the forward section and operatively connected with the rear section, and stirrups depending from the actuating member for causing saidactuating member to move the pivoted sections to elevated position when the weight of the rider is transferred from the saddle to said stirrups.

3. A hobby horse comprising a body portion includingI pivotally-united front and rear depressible. sections having leg portions, a saddle pivotallyv mounted on one section and loosely contacting the other section, said saddle being actuated by the weight of a rider thereon to depress the sections, an actuating member pivotally mounted on the forward section and provided with a `cam surface, a flexible element secured to the actuating member and extending over the cam surface for engagement with therear section, and stirrupsl operatively connectedvwith the actuating member and adapted to elevate said sections when the weight of the rider istransferred from the saddle to the stirrups.

4. A hobby horse vcomprising a body portion includingmpivotally united depressible sections having leg, portions, traction wheels carried by the leg portions, pawl and ratchet mechanism operatively connected with the traction wheels, a spring forming ayieldable connection between the pivoted endsv of the sections, a saddle spanningy the junction of the sections and adapted to depress said sections when the weight of the rider 'is imposed thereon, an actuating member pivotally mounted 'on the forward section and having its pivoted end provided with a cam surface and a longitudinally disposed bar, a vertical bar` pivotally connected with the longitudinal bar,la.cross bar. connected with the vertical bar, a webuniting vthe cam surface and longitudinal bar, a flexible element having one end thereof secured to the web and its other end extending overathe-camfsurface'and connected with the rearwsection, and stirrups depending from the cross'fbar for moving-the actuating member to elevate'. thepivoted' sections: when the weight of 7th.v

the rider is transferred-from the saddle to the stirrups.

5. A hobby horse comprising a body portion including pivotally united front and rear hollow depressible sections defining an interior `channber, a spring disposed within said chamber and f ment connected with the actuating member and extending over the cam surface for engagement with the rear section, and stirrups depending from the bar for tilting the actuating member to elevate the sections when the weight of the rider isshifted from the saddle to said stirrups.

6. A hobby horse comprising a body portion including pivotally united. front and rear depressible sections, means forming a yieldable connection between the pivoted ends of said secend provided with ears receiving the tongue and to which it is pivotally connected and its lower end bifurcated, a cross bar pivotally mounted in the lower end of the suspension bar and provided with terminal openings, straps fitted in said openings, a chain `having one end thereof fitted Within the opening in the web and its other end extending over the cam surface and secured to the rear section, and stirrups carried by the straps for tilting the actuating member to elevate the pivoted sections when the weight of the rider is transferred from the saddle to said stirrups. i v

'7. A hobby horse comprising a body portion including pivotally united depressble front andv rear sections provided with leg portions, yieldable means connecting said sections, a saddle spanning the pivotal junction of the sections, stirrups depending from the forward section, and means operable by alternately transferring the Weight of a rider from the saddle to the stirrups, respectively, for advancing the legs in a forward direction with a step by step movement.

8. A hobby horse comprising a body portion including pivotally united front and rear depressible sections having leg portions, the oppos- `ing faces of the sections on one side of the pivot being disposed parallel with each other and the opposing faces on the other side of the pivot being disposed at an angle to each other to form a V-shaped recess, yieldable means uniting the pivoted ends of the sections, side plates detachably secured to the forward section and slidably overlapping the rear section and serving to close said V-shaped recess, a saddle pivotally mounted on the forward section and provided with a skirt overhanging the side plates, stirrups depending from the forward section, and means operable by alternately transferring the weight of a rider from the saddle to the stirrups, respectively, for advancing the legs in a forward direction with a step by step movement.

9. A hobby horse comprising a body portion including pivotally united front and rear sections having leg portions and each provided at its inner end with a pair of` flat faces at an angle to each other and converging toward the opposite section, a spring forming a yieldable connection between-the pivoted ends of the sections, a saddle spanning the junction of said sections and adapted to be depressed by the weight of the rider for bringing two of the adjacent faces of the sections together to permit forward movement of the front legs of the horse, stirrups depending from the front section, an actuating member operatively connected With the stirrups, and a flexible connection between the actuating member and said rear section for moving the other adjacent faces of the sections together and advancing the rear legs of the horse when the l d weight of the rider is transferred to the stlrrups.

EDWARD P. ODONNELL. 

